Talk to Debbie is a trading style of Financial Guardian (UK) Ltd. When you use this website, fill in our form, message us or speak to our team, Financial Guardian (UK) Ltd is responsible for your personal information. This policy explains what we collect, why, who we share it with and the choices you have, in plain English.
At a glance
We never sell your data. Your details are used to help you with your debts, and nothing else without your say-so.
We only contact you because you asked. You can tell us to stop at any time.
Advertising cookies are optional. We only use them if you accept them, and you can change your mind.
Your debt details stay private. We don’t pass your form answers to Facebook, Instagram or Google.
Who we are
Talk to Debbie is a trading style of Financial Guardian (UK) Ltd, which is the data controller for the information you give us through this website.
- Company Financial Guardian (UK) Ltd, registered in England and Wales, company number 07906605
- Registered office Coppull Business Centre, Mill Lane, Chorley, PR7 5BW
- Regulated by Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm reference number 662403
- ICO registration Z318074X
You can read the Financial Guardian privacy policy at financialguardian.co.uk/privacy. This policy covers the same services, and adds the extra details that apply to the Talk to Debbie website, in particular how we advertise.
What information we collect
When you fill in our form
Our short form asks for:
- your first name and surname, mobile number and (if you choose to give it) your email address
- what you’re worried about, such as missed payments, bailiffs or court action
- the types of debt you have and roughly how much you owe
When you speak to our team
To give you the right advice, we’ll ask about your income and outgoings, your household, your creditors and how much you owe them. If you tell us about your health or anything else that makes life harder at the moment, we’ll only use it to support you properly, and only with your explicit consent.
Automatically, when you visit the website
- Where you came from. If you reach us from an advert, the web address can include campaign details (for example
utm_source) and a click reference from Meta (fbclid) or Google (gclid). We save these with your enquiry so we know which adverts help people. - Technical details. Your IP address, device and browser type, which our hosting and security systems record to keep the site running safely.
- Cookies and similar tools, but only advertising and measurement ones if you agree. See Cookies and how to control them.
How we use social media and online advertising
Unlike the main Financial Guardian website, we advertise Talk to Debbie on Facebook and Instagram (owned by Meta) and may also advertise on Google. This is how that works:
Measuring our adverts. If you accept advertising cookies, we use the Meta Pixel and Google Ads conversion tracking, managed through Google Tag Manager. These tell Meta and Google that someone who clicked an advert visited our site or completed our form, so we can see which adverts work and avoid wasting money on ones that don’t.
What they don’t get. We don’t send Meta or Google your answers about your debts or worries, or the details of your financial situation.
Meta and Google’s own use. Meta and Google may also use this information under their own privacy policies, for example to show you adverts. For the information collected through the Meta Pixel, we and Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd are joint controllers. You can read Meta’s privacy policy and Google’s privacy policy.
You can refuse advertising cookies when you first visit, or change your choice at any time. You can also manage the adverts you see in your Meta ad preferences and Google My Ad Center.
How we use your information
- To get back to you about your enquiry, by phone, text, WhatsApp or email
- To understand your situation and recommend the debt solution that fits you best
- To prepare and run your debt solution, such as an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), if you go ahead
- To check your credit file (a soft search that doesn’t affect your credit score) to confirm who you owe and how much
- To meet our legal and regulatory duties
- To spot fake, duplicate or fraudulent enquiries
- To record calls for training and quality, so our advice stays accurate
- To measure how well our website and adverts work (with your consent)
Our lawful basis for using your information
Data protection law says we must have a valid reason, called a lawful basis, for each way we use your information.
| What we do | Lawful basis |
|---|---|
| Contacting you about your enquiry | Consent |
| Assessing your situation and advising you | Taking steps you’ve asked for before entering into a contract |
| Preparing and running your IVA, including sharing it with your creditors | Contract, and our legal duties as insolvency practitioners |
| Soft credit searches to confirm your creditors and balances | Legitimate interests (making sure your proposal is accurate) |
| Registering an IVA on the Insolvency Register and reporting to regulators | Legal obligation |
| Using health or vulnerability information to support you | Explicit consent |
| Identifying fake or duplicate enquiries, including using IP addresses | Legitimate interests (preventing fraud and misuse) |
| Recording calls for training and monitoring | Legitimate interests (quality and accuracy of advice) |
| Saving the advert or campaign that brought you to us with your enquiry | Legitimate interests (understanding which advertising works) |
| Advertising and measurement cookies (Meta Pixel, Google Ads) | Consent |
| Referring you to a carefully chosen partner, if we can’t help | Explicit consent |
Who we share your information with
We only share what’s needed, with organisations that have to protect it. We never sell your information.
| Who | Why |
|---|---|
| Our case management system (Hubsolv) | To securely store your enquiry and manage your case |
| Our website, email and telephone providers | To run the website, receive your enquiry and speak to you |
| Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) and Google | To measure our adverts if you accept advertising cookies, and to deliver messages if you contact us on WhatsApp |
| Valid8 IP Ltd and the credit reference agencies Equifax, Experian and TransUnion | To carry out soft credit searches |
| Your creditors | To prepare and run your debt solution, with your agreement |
| The Insolvency Service | To record an IVA on the Insolvency Register, which credit reference agencies can see |
| Regulators, including the Financial Conduct Authority and the Insolvency Practitioners Association | To meet our regulatory duties |
| Law enforcement agencies | Only where the law requires it |
| Business partners | Only with your explicit consent |
Sending information outside the UK
Some of our providers, including Meta and Google, may process information outside the UK, for example in the United States. When this happens, we make sure it’s protected by approved safeguards, such as the UK–US Data Bridge or the UK’s International Data Transfer Agreement.
How long we keep your information
- If you don’t go ahead with a debt solution, we keep your enquiry for [12 months] in case you come back to us, then delete it. You can ask us to delete it sooner.
- If you enter a debt solution, we keep your records for as long as the law and our regulators require, which is normally [6 years] after it ends.
- Advertising cookies last for the periods shown in the cookie table below.
Your rights
You have rights over your information. Using them is normally free, and we’ll reply within one month (or up to two months more for complicated requests, and we’ll tell you if so).
See it Ask for a copy of what we hold about you.
Correct it Ask us to fix anything that’s wrong or incomplete.
Delete it Ask us to erase it where we no longer need it.
Limit it Ask us to restrict how we use it.
Object Object to us using it for our legitimate interests.
Move it Ask for it in a format you can give to someone else.
Change your mind Withdraw your consent at any time, including for cookies and contact.
Some rights have limits. For example, we can’t delete records we’re legally required to keep while an IVA is running.
Cookies and how to control them
Cookies are small files saved on your device. We use two kinds:
- Essential cookies that the website needs to work. These don’t need your consent.
- Advertising and measurement cookies from Meta and Google. These are only set if you click to accept them.
| Cookie | Set by | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|---|
_fbp | Meta | Recognises your browser so Meta can measure our adverts | 3 months |
_fbc | Meta | Remembers that you arrived from a Facebook or Instagram advert | 3 months |
_gcl_au | Measures how well our Google adverts work | 3 months | |
| Cookie consent | Us | Remembers your cookie choice | [12 months] |
You can change your cookie choice at any time using the cookie settings link at the bottom of every page. You can also delete or block cookies in your browser settings.
Contacting you
When you fill in our form, you agree that we can contact you about your enquiry by phone, text, WhatsApp or email. We won’t send you marketing about other companies’ products.
You can tell us to stop at any time: reply to any of our texts or emails, or call us. We’ll update our records straight away.
Keeping your information safe
We protect your information with physical, technical and organisational safeguards. These include encrypted connections on this website, secure systems with restricted access, and checking who you are before we discuss your case on the phone.
Links to other websites
This website links to other sites, such as MoneyHelper and the Information Commissioner’s Office. We’re not responsible for how those sites handle your information, so please read their privacy policies.
Complaints
Tell us first If you’re unhappy with how we’ve used your information, please contact us using the details below. We’ll acknowledge your complaint within 30 days and do our best to put things right.
The Information Commissioner’s Office If you’re still not happy, you can complain to the ICO at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint or by calling 0303 123 1113.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time, for example if we start using a new service. The date at the bottom shows when it last changed.
How to contact us about your information
By post Compliance Department, Financial Guardian (UK) Ltd, Coppull Business Centre, Mill Lane, Chorley, PR7 5BW
By phone 01257 796000
By email [privacy@yourdomain.co.uk]
